Built by Moscow’s TCD (short for Timokhin Custom Design), this one-off Thruxton was commissioned by a client who works in aviation...
Triumph Cafe Racer
The origins of this famous British motorcycle marque go back to 1884, well before the first actual Triumph motorcycle appeared in 1902. By the 1920’s Triumph was building 30,000 cars and motorcycles a year. During the 50s many cafe racers were powered by Triumph engines due to their ability to reach the revered ‘ton’ or 100 miles per hour. Triumph is arguably one of the most popular motorcycle brands in the world and is arguably the leader in the “everything old is new again” retro bike wave.
Before the “new wave” custom motorcycle scene and websites like this existed, custom builders like Nicola Martini (aka Mr Martini)...
It feels like only yesterday that Tamarit Motorcycles was celebrating its 50th build. Today the Spanish powerhouse workshop is about...
If there’s one thing I love about my job, it’s picking the brains of the diverse handful of people that...
In 2011 a self-confessed motorcycle nerd and his fashion model girlfriend took part in their first land speed trials event...
Nicola Martini, the man behind Italy’s Special Mr Martini motorcycle workshop, restaurant and retail store, isn’t the shy type. For...
It’s not often you hear of people fulfilling their childhood “When I grow up I want to be …” career...
Happy new year! Well, that wraps up yet another year of cafe racer content. Like the previous year, 2021 was...
Triumph Motorcycles have been adding a myriad of updates and special editions to their 2022 Modern Classic lineup. We’ve seen...
‘Having the right tools for the job,’ is a fairly tired saying—but the basic idea behind it applies to a...
Story contributed by builder – Larry Maas This bike started its life around 1970 at Kosman Specialties, where I worked...
So you’re obsessed with two wheels? Well, we see no reason why that obsession can’t span beyond motorcycles to include...
Despite the clear improvements and benefits of the newer water-cooled models, the air-cooled Triumph Bonneville T100 is destined to be...
Triumph Motorcycles range of Modern Classics is arguably the best mix of modern technology and classic style money can (currently)...
Spanish workshop Tamarit Motorcycles have over 100 custom Triumph Modern Classics under their belts. Along with building custom bikes for...
At 54 years young Swedish born Norwegian Tomas Wrede has an enviable list of bike builds under his belt. He...
“They don’t make them like they used to!” When you hear those words uttered it is generally with disdain. A...
Let’s face it – 2020 wasn’t the best year to be releasing a new motorcycle. Heck, it wasn’t a good...
When it comes to building a cafe racer, no other marque is better suited than Triumph Motorcycles. This is of...
As the world struggles to regain some form of normality after the pandemic – we’re beginning to see the return...
In life, the best advice you will get will comes from friends. After all, if you can’t trust your friends,...
Nothing grabs the headlines quite like an enormous selling price at auction. We’ve seen motorcycles sell for phenomenal money over...
Psychologists have a theory that goes something like this: your brain’s synapses are set in your teen years and they...
One of the trademarks of Tamarit Motorcycles is that their only constant is change. With a portfolio fast approaching 100...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
The 1200CC Triumph Speed Twin is the newest addition to Hinkley’s Modern Classic range. So far we’ve seen very few...
In 2020, Triumph released the most powerful model in the history of the Modern Classic range. The Thruxton RS offers...
Alongside Harley Davidson‘s Sportster the Triumph Bonneville is arguably the most customised motorcycle ever made. We’ve featured countless Bonneville cafe...
If you’re anything like us, the lack of motorcycle events this year is sure to be getting you down. Thankfully...
Building a short series of custom motorcycles is a great way for a workshop to be financially viable. In most...
If you’re on the lookout for a donor bike for you next cafe racer build have you considered a tourer?...
German father and son team, Michael and Allen Posenauer build bikes under the title of AMP Motorcycles. They don’t consider...
Austin’s Revival Cycles have amassed an impressive portfolio of custom motorcycles. Each one has a unique story of how it...
Prior to Hinckley releasing their acclaimed water-cooled Bonnevilles they’d had a great run with their air-cooled predecessors. Despite not offering...
As efficient as automation is has been responsible for the death of many age-old skills. In the world of aftermarket...
If you’re a Triumph owner living in Europe and you want to modify your bike you’re spoilt for options. There’s...
I think the term ‘patina’ is often misused in the custom world. Nowadays it seems to be applied to any...
Here’s a little something to get you through another night glued to the couch. Our latest instalment of the Sunday...
Nicola Martini, aka Mr Martini, aka the Mad Hatter, is an Italian custom bike builder, restauranteur and retailer. The self-proclaimed...
When you’re on to a good thing, stick to it. Tamarit Motorcycles have a soft spot for Triumphs. They kicked...
What better way to kick off a new year of cafe racers than with a classic? This Triton cafe racer...
This wildly customized Bonneville is the handiwork of Triumph aficionados, South Garage Moto Co. It was created to celebrate the 70th...
Triumph seems to have created the ultimate Scrambler. They’ve gone a step further than everyone else and built a fully...
The Triumph Rocket 3 is a lot of things. A monstrous cruiser. A torque powerhouse. A modern classic. But it...
When I’m not obsessing over motorcycles or writing features like this I like to watch people building things on Youtube....
Michael Hammer’s workshop, Hammer Kraftrad, is located in the northern reaches of Bavaria. So it’s no surprise he loves his...
The Japanese custom automotive scene is bursting with unbound creativity and world-class craftsmanship. So for a photographer whose passion lies...
This week’s Sunday Screening was produced by French moto-apparel brand Age of Glory. ‘Escape the City Limits’ celebrates the companies...
With over a million Instagram followers ‘Cafe Racers of Instagram’ (aka CROIG) have one of the world’s biggest social motorcycle...
Take the most powerful engine in the Triumph modern classic range and shoehorn it into one of the most revered...
Russia’s not just the home of borscht, vodka and Oscarworthy dashcam footage. In recent years there’s been some stellar motorcycle...
O, to be a motorcycle journalist in the 1970s. When men were hairy, and bikes were lairy. With their barely-there...
Ask anyone who’s ever tried. Running a successful custom motorcycle shop is no easy feat. Now imagine only having 2...
For custom motorcycle builders making ends meet is a tough gig. Sometimes it takes more than just waiting for customers...
There are plenty of custom motorcycles born of mixed parentage. Some should never have been conceived and yet others like...
It’s been 3 years since the release of Triumph’s water-cooled Bonneville range. Amongst the first of the new Modern Classics...
One place where form should never compromise function is in the world of motorcycle customisation. This is particularly relevant when...
Triumph certainly seem to have gotten the formula right when they released their Thruxton R. I’ve heard both seasoned motorcycle...
If you’re on Instagram and you’re not following Cafe Racers of Instagram go do it now! Now that’s done you’ll...
Great bikes should be ridden. Matt built his Triumph Trophy cafe racer as a tribute to a motorcycle once ridden...
In this third and final instalment on Blacktrack Motors BT02 Triumph ‘Thruxman’, we learn about the final build stage. Sacha Lakic...
En route to the tropical paradise that is Bali, the average Joe would be looking forward to lazing on the...
It’s fair to say that a hell of a lot of work goes into the custom motorcycles I feature. So...
The donor for the project was Jean-Francois’ own 2008 Triumph 1050 Speed Triple. Although his plan was to add bodywork to the...
In the Tamarit Motorcycle catalog of more than 180 bolt on parts, you’ll find everything from fenders to seat cowls. Developing said...
The damage to Mixy’s Triumph left it inoperable with the tank smashed, side covers badly gouged and the front end...
One of the perks of running a custom motorcycle website like ‘Return of the Café Racers’ is being invited to...
“My main goal was performance and low-key style. Most of the modifications made decreased the Triumph’s weight and added to...
My motorcycle is a 2011 Triumph Bonneville. The build is still ongoing on as I continue to make upgrades and...
There’s no denying the Triumph Thruxton R is a great looking bit of kit. When the Hinkley team created a...
For years the de facto choice when building a cafe racer was the air-cooled, 865cc Triumph Bonneville. With very few...
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
Is it possible to improve on perfection? After spending some time in the saddle of a Thruxton R you could...
Looking back over the past decade of publishing this website I can’t think of a year that offered more exciting...
After the dust from the sheet settled Andy went on to tell Ryan stories of his escapades on the bike....
Triumph has well and truly hit the nail on the head with their new Modern Classics range. The British manufacturer...
The Glemseck 101 festival is on again this weekend in Germany and it’s geared up to be bigger than ever....
Icon 1000 has just unveiled their newest range of riding gear and with it comes a new website and more...
“We had a client from Perth in Australia contact us after he saw a picture of our Bronco Racer” recalls...
The man who formulated the build was a Belgian by the name of Bernard. Bernard’s love for classic British motorcycles...
Aside from being the most iconic of all Cafe Racers, what really makes the Triton special is how it came...
The build started when a client came to Marcos looking for something “out of the norm” that could double as...
“The Street Twin is our most contemporary, fun and accessible new Bonneville” – Triumph Motorcycles The Street Twin is the...
“Triumph has a glorious racing history” explained Matthias Becker of Hanse Qustom in Hamburg, Germany. “The ‘Shady Sam‘ is our...
Despite it’s torrid sales history the Trident was a magnificent motorcycle. Its engine performed incredibly, its frame provided track worthy...
“The build started by changing the headlight to something that was more classically styled.” says Michael. “Then I removed the...
The world’s biggest Triumph motorcycle focused event ‘Tridays’ celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Spanning 3 days the Austrian based...
“The Concept Racer workshop is a project that was born officially at the beginning of 2014, before that we were...
“I’m from Southern California and grew up surfing, skateboarding and dirt biking. I fell in love with Cafe Racers in...
Bonneville T120 and T120 Black While all of the 2016 Triumph Classics feature big changes to their design and engineering,...
Like most of the motorcycle community I was left a little confused after the recent release of Belstaff’s ‘Outlaws’ short...
“We are fetishists.
We worship speed. We adore motorcycles.” Kalup is a new brand/breed of motorcycle riding gear from the...
Jesse Bassett has been operating ‘The GasBox’ workshop in Cleveland, Ohio since early 2009. As a seasoned workshop mechanic of...
I’m a sucker for retro fairings. I’m obsessed with Honda’s legendary CR750 and the TT race bikes of the seventies...
No it doesn’t have a headlight. No it doesn’t have indicators, a rearview mirror or a stop light. No it’s...
As 2014 comes to an end I thought I’d take a (close up) look at some of the incredible work...
And here I was thinking the best thing to come out of Belgium was chocolates and Jean Claude Van Damme!...
As well as trying to update this site as often as possible I also write for Tank Moto and Fuel...
